The Radiation Detection for Nuclear Security Summer School

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) offers the Radiation Detection for Nuclear Security (RDNS) summer school, a hands-on, distinctive experience that explores how radiation detectors are used in national security missions. It was developed in 2011, funded by the National Nuclear Security Agency, Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation Research & Development. The target audience is upper-level undergraduate and graduate students considering careers at national labs and at government agencies. The course provides an understanding of current challenges and exposes students to the technical foundations, analysis, and insights needed to lead research and development in nuclear security. Students explore nuclear security missions and their real-world constraints, the interface of technology, policy, and operations, and the contributions of radiation detection systems. The two-week course on PNNL’s Richland, Washington campus features seminars with experts, interactions with program managers from different government agencies, tours of operational labs and facilities, and hands-on instruction with detection equipment and methods. This paper provides an overview of the school, a retrospective on its evolution, and plans for the next school in 2025.